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Jake Bishop

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  • Module convenor for AP3A90 and APMA90 Climate Change and Food Systems, AP1A02 Introduction to Agricultural and Food systems, lecturer on several other modules
  • Chair of Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, School of Agriculture, Policy & Development
  • Supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research projects
  • Academic tutor to undergraduate students

Areas of interest

I study how food production by crop plants is affected by stressful weather conditions such as heatwaves and droughts, and what we can do to mitigate negative impacts. I specialise in faba bean (Vicia faba) but also work with wheat, oilseed rape and apple. Crop plants are part of a wider ecosystem, so I also investigate how the weather can change interactions between crops and beneficial organisms such as insect pollinators and natural enemies of pests. My research group uses a variety of approaches, from analysing historical records of weather and crop yields to exposing crop plants or model ecosystems to simulated climate change in controlled environments. Our aim is to develop a better understanding of threats to food production and help food producers to adapt as unfavourable weather conditions become more common in the changing climate. 

Postgraduate supervision

PhD Students

  • Stuart Edwards. Pests, plants and parasitoids: how does climate variability affect tri-trophic interactions in apple orchards? Primary supervisor, with Richard Walters (Lund University, Sweden), Robbie Girling (UoR) and Glen Powell (East Malling Research). Funders: BBSRC CTP in Fruit Crop Research.
  • Caitlin McLaughlin. Maximising the environmental benefits of gardens through optimal planting choices and understanding of occupants' engagement. Primary supervisor, with Tijana Blanusa and Martin Lukac (UoR) and Ross Cameron (University of Sheffield). Funders: BBSRC DTP SCENARIO CASE with Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Anisa Aubin. An empirical, data driven, model for wheat cultivars and optimisation for future climate scenarios. Co-supervisor with Seb Oliver (University of Sussex). Funders: Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
  • Arisede Chisaka. Addressing the challenge of combined heat and drought stress for cereal production. Primary supervisor, with John Hammond (UoR), Iain Donnison (Aberystwyth University), Joerg Leipner (Syngenta). Funders: BBSRC DTP FoodBioSystems CASE with Syngenta.

Alumni

  • Dr Richard Gantlett (PhD student 2014-2021). Dr Caroline Harkness (PhD student 2018-2022).
  • Dr Paolo Capece and Daisy Johnson (visiting researchers).
  • Hermione Wright, Madeleine Pow, Jonathan Fry, Adreena Lau, Charles Geary (research placement students).

Current opportunities:

Please send me an email if you would like to discuss applying with me for a fellowship or PhD studentship funding or if you have your own funding.

Research projects

Recent projects:

  • FACYNation: optimising wheat cultivar selection in a changing climate. Collaborating with Edward Pope (Met Office), Lisa Emberson (University of York), Seb Oliver and Raphael Shirley (University of Sussex). Developing a simulation tool to learn a yield model for existing and new UK wheat cultivars and map that model across the UK to predict performance (and spatio-temporal variability) for current and future environments using UKCP18 climate projections. Funded by STFC SFN+, 2019.
  • Developing a network to improve productivity and nutritional value of Kenyan grain amaranth. Collaborating with Myriam Grundy (INRA), Willis Owino (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya) and Fanuel Kawaka (Technical University of Mombasa). We are working to (i) collect preliminary data on genetic and environmental factors affecting grain amaranth production and nutritional value, and (ii) develop a wider researcher network across the food system. Funded by GCRF, 2018-2019.
  • AgriCLASS: Agricultural Climate Advisory Services. Engaging with agricultural stakeholders in Italy and France to develop user requirements for a medium range climate information service relating to olives, grapevines and forestry.
  • MACSUR: Modelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security. Impact assessment of extreme events on European food security. I maintain connections within the MACSUR knowledge hub and I am a co-author on a recent Research Gap Report.

Professional bodies/affiliations

Professional activities:

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of Association of Applied Biologists specialist group for Cropping and the Environment
  • Reviewer for ISI journals and funding councils

Publications